All upcoming Philosophy & Religion programs

Does free-market capitalism promote economic growth at the expense of virtue and happiness? Steven M. Emmanuel, chair of the philosophy department at Virginia Wesleyan University, examines texts in the canonical literature of Buddhism that describe an ennobling form of economic activity that is compatible with moral and spiritual growth and promotes the conditions for a peaceful, prosperous, and happy society.

Behind the architectural splendor and rich cultural tapestry of Venice lies a deeply spiritual heritage, embodied by the saints whom its residents have venerated for centuries­. Their remains and relics were believed to possess spiritual significance and carry political, economic, and diplomatic influence. Historian Dennis Romano explores the crucial roles of the Virgin Mary, Saint Mark, and Saint Nicholas in shaping Venice’s identity, highlighting the magnificent churches, paintings, and sculptures commissioned in their honor. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the world’s most beloved sacred texts. Graham M. Schweig, a professor of religion and translator of the Bhagavad Gita, illuminates some of the exquisite passages in this Hindu philosophical poem and examines their rich narrative context. He also reveals how the voice of wisdom and compassion in a work created around the 2nd century speaks to the challenges of the modern world.

Certified yoga therapist Linda Lang leads an immersive two-part exploration of some of the philosophical foundations of yogic awareness. Through lectures and guided meditation, participants investigate topics including the symbolism of the Sanskrit sacred syllable “om,” ideas of embodiment, and yoga’s paths to an enlightened and illuminated sense of self.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, completed in the 14th century in Florence, is the city’s principal Dominican church. Located next to the main railway station, the church, cloisters, and chapter house contain works by some of Italy’s most notable Gothic and early Renaissance artists, including Brunelleschi, Giotto, and Ghiberti. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero highlights this lesser-known church and museum and its treasures. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The works of metaphysical poet John Donne abound with highly unusual similes and metaphors, often from science, engineering, and cosmology. He wrote erotic (and often cynical) love poems as well as religious verse and prose, including what are regarded as the greatest sermons of his era. Humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson draws on and interprets Donne’s timeless poetry and prose as he discusses his life and achievements.

The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, or Cathedral Museum, in Siena, Italy, houses works of art and architectural fragments that were formerly in, or a part of, the Duomo of Siena (Siena Cathedral). These include a number of Italian Gothic sculptures by Giovanni Pisano and his school from the façade of the cathedral; the Maestà of Duccio di Buoninsegna, which was the altarpiece for about 200 years; and works by Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero highlights this lesser-known museum and its treasures. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

In 1839, five young women in Boston formed a conversation society “to answer the great questions” of special importance to women: "What are we born to do? How shall we do it?" Scholar and author Randall Fuller examines how these women—all remarkable thinkers and artists who played pathbreaking but often-overlooked roles in the transcendentalist movement—helped form the foundations of American feminism.

At its peak, the Roman empire extended from Britain to the Sahara Desert, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Euphrates River. Yet in 476, the last western Roman emperor was deposed. In a 4-part series, historian David Gwynn analyzes the dramatic events which shaped the decline and fall of the Roman empire in the west, exploring the transformation from the ancient to the medieval world that laid the foundations for modern Europe. This session focuses on the fourth-century Roman empire.

For approximately five centuries during the second millennium B.C.E., the Egyptian city of Thebes served as the backdrop for the construction of a bewildering array of religious temples, memorial complexes, and royal tombs. Historian Justin M. Jacobs introduces the chief cultural, religious, and political themes of the monuments of ancient Thebes: the Karnak and Luxor temples of the East Bank, the memorial temples of the West Bank, and the necropolis in the Valley of the Kings.